Woman becomes ‘stiff wooden person’ after getting scolded at work: What is catatonic stupor?

In a heartbreaking incident, a woman in China suffered from a severe psychological breakdown after she was reprimanded by her boss at work.

According to the South China Morning Post, the woman, identified as Li from central China’s Henan province has become a “stiff wooden person” who doesn’t eat, drink or move and needs to be reminded to use the bathroom by her family.

According to her doctor, she has been diagnosed with a disorder called catatonic stupor.

What is her condition all about? What are its symptoms and treatment? Let’s take a closer look.

What is catatonic stupor?

Catatonic stupor or catatonia, is a psychomotor disorder, where a person’s awareness of the world around them is disrupted.

The Cleveland Clinic explains that during this state, people’s ability to move in a normal way gets affected and they may “react very little or not at all to their surroundings.” It includes an inability to move, speak, or respond to anything.

More from Health

From infections to lifestyle damage, experts call for integrated surgery and physiotherapy in India Dr explains: How modern lifestyles are fuelling the 'tech neck' epidemic and orthopaedic ailments

Other than that the person might also behave in ways that are unusual, unexpected, or unsafe to themselves or others.

According to Healthline, catatonia lasts anywhere from a few hours to weeks, months, or even years. It can also reoccur years after the initial episode.

What happened to Li?

When Li was brought to the hospital, Li resembled a “wooden figure” - who could not move or respond, said her doctor.

According to a report by local Chinese media outlet Hongxing News, Li had been scolded by her team leader a month prior, leading to her prolonged unhappiness.

As a result, Li suddenly became unresponsive and her condition worsened. Her family shared that if the pillow beneath her head was removed, her head would remain suspended mid-air as if caught between worlds.

Editor’s Picks

1

Australians can now legally ignore bosses after work hours, get 'right to disconnect' 2

Over worked: Why 86% of Indians are unhappy at their workplace

The doctor explained that this severe and rare form of depression stemmed from intense emotional trauma. She further said that Li’s introverted personality and her struggle to open up to people also added to the extreme reactions caused by the incident.

The case has ignited a significant discussion across Chinese social media platforms.

“She had been torturing herself due to her boss’s actions,” remarked one user on Douyin.

Another user weighed in, stating, “If your job is too demanding, it’s better to leave rather than suffer in silence.”

A third observer shared, “I also feel work-related stress at times, but I cannot quit because finding another job is so challenging.”

According to Shangguan News, as cited by SCMP, nearly 80 per cent of employees reported feelings of agitation at work, while 60 per cent experienced anxiety, and almost 40 per cent showed symptoms of depression in workplace

Other symptoms of catatonic stupor

According to Healthline, other symptoms of this condition include echolalia, where a person responds by repeating what they hear, and catalepsy, a form of muscular rigidity. Negativism, or a lack of response or resistance to external stimuli, may also occur, along with echopraxia, where a person mimics others’ movements, as well as mutism and grimacing.

What causes catatonic stupor?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, despite nearly 150 years of research, the exact cause of catatonia remains a mystery. Experts have proposed various explanations, from chemical imbalances in the brain to potential genetic factors passed down through generations.

Without a pinpointed cause, experts can only identify related conditions that may trigger catatonia. The mental health conditions most frequently linked to catatonia include bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, major depressive disorder, and degenerative brain diseases like dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Other possible connections include epilepsy, stroke, and encephalitis.

Also read : Over worked: Why 86% of Indians are unhappy at their workplace

Also read: Why overstressed Chinese workers are growing bananas on their office desk

How is it treated?

Catatonia can primarily be treated in two ways: through medications and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Medications are prescribed by healthcare practitioners based on the specific condition being treated.

In contrast, electroconvulsive therapy involves administering a mild electrical current to a specific area of the brain, inducing a brief seizure. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia, ensuring patients remain in a deep sleep and feel no pain during the treatment.

Some individuals may begin to see improvements within minutes or hours of their first session, while others might require several treatments before experiencing any positive response.

With input from agencies